When I wear my black latex suits to kill, I feel exotic and sexy, but I rarely wear clothes that make me feel beautiful, until today.
“Remember what I said,” I say quietly so nearby diners can’t hear. “Aside from Devon and Warrick, my parents and sisters don’t know I’m back. I don’t know how they’ll react, and it may not be good.”
Jude’s expression softens when he looks at me.
“We remember, Mum. Don’t worry, we’ll behave, but if any of them are rude to you, I’ll fuck them up.”
Ronnie and Asher snicker, and I roll my eyes.
“Try to refrain, please. I can look after myself and I canhandlemy family.” I reach out and pinch Jude’s cheek. “But thank you.”
He shoots me a wink, and I wish I could say it was one of those reassuring winks that is meant to put me at ease. But there’s nothing but mischief in his wink.
Maybe I should have left the twins back at the hotel with Barrett.
Knowing I’m stalling, I blow out a breath, stand tall, and glance up at Asher.
“You ready?” I ask him, and he nods, reaching out to weave his fingers with mine.
“Never been more ready to meet someone’s parents in my life.”
The twins chuckle at Asher’s unsure tone, and I shake my head, even as I smile and reach for the double sliding doors.
Easing them open, we are met with chatter and laughter and China clinking on plates, and as I step inside, slowly, each person freezes, all except for my brothers who keep eating.
“Come on in, Lil,” Devon grins. “Entrees have just been served.”
I hear the doors slide closed behind us, and figure one of the twins must have done it, but I can’t take my eyes off the table, off my mother who has aged so much. She’d have to be in her early sixties by now.
Shit… and my dad, looking more like his brother Ewan than I remember, with his greying hair and deep smile lines.
“Lily?” Jenaveve’s voice draws my attention to the other end of the table.
My little sister, only two years younger and still so stunning with her long, silky red hair. It’s lighter than mine, but just as long.
“Hey, Jen.” I offer her a small smile, and the moment I do, she stands abruptly, her chair falling back as she charges for me, tears already streaming from her eyes.
She throws herself at me, and Asher releases my hand so I can hug my sister back, trying really hard to hold back my own tears.
Everything goes crazy after that.
My other little sister, Elise, pulls Jen off me before taking me in for her own hug, a thousand words flying from their lips as they deal with their shock of seeing me.
Devon simply grins, lounging back in his chair like it’s his throne, eating and sipping on his whisky. A timid blonde is sitting next to him, and I have to guess that’s his fiancé, Jaxcen.
“Lilian.”
My name falls from my mother’s lips, and I glance to the side to see her moving towards me, her hands held out as she reaches for me, and behind her, my father.
“Hey Mum. Hey Dad.” I offer them a smile, which they return, and a second later I’m pulled into a group hug with the two of them, their grips tight like they don’t want to let me go.
“You’re gonna suffocate her before she can introduce you to your grandsons,” Warrick grumbles from across the room, and both my parents pull back, their eyes going wide as they look between Asher, Jude and Ronan.
“You… have three sons?” my mother asks, her confused gaze darting across the room to Devon, who simply chuckles knowingly.
Fucker.
The twins scoff at my mum’s words, Jude stepping forward and holding his hand out, ready to shake.
